Improvement in log-canting machines



2 Sheets--Sheet 2. A. R0 DGERS.

Lug Gauting Machines.

N0. 142,280, PatentedAugust26,1873.'

Maw/M @W7/M ENT Omron,

ALEXANDER RODGERS, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN.

g Specicationforming part of Letters Patent Ilm-142,280, dated August 26, 1873 application filed August 21, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER RoDGERs, of Muskegon, in the county of Muskegon and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Log-Gauting Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to 'make and use it, reference being had to the tion and arrangement of the different parts,

as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings similar letters of reference denote like parts in thedifferent gures.

Figure 1 is an end viewV of the machine, showing the position of the different parts of the device in connection with the driving mechanism. Fig. 2 is a side view, showing two of the canting-levers arranged at a distance from each other, but both operated by the same driving mechanism.

This machine consists essentially of two or more canting-levers, one end of each being secured to a stationary pivot or hinge, and the other to the upper end of a vertically-moving and horizontally-vibrating bar, which is connected with a cross-head at its lower end that reciprocates'vertically between guides. The power for operating the various devices composing the machine is applied through a system of frictional gearing to a shaft provided with chain-drums at proper intervals, upon which the chain which lifts the vertical bar and operates the canting-levers winds.

A A A are a series of carrying-rolls which are used for conveying lumber from one part of the mill to another, and are operated by a line of shafting, r, provided at proper intervals with thc miter-gears t, which drive the rolls through the medium of a similar gear, t', secured upon the roll-shaft. A represents the bed upon which the timber to be turned or moved rests after the completion of that operation, and may consist of the log-way or carriage of a saw-mill or any other parts of the mill over or upon which it is desired to move the logs or cants. B B are canting-levers, generally formed of cast metal, and having at one end a curved neck, b, which is hinged to the supporting-bracket b. The other extremity of the lever is provided with a downwardly-projecting lug, b, to which is pivoted the metallic cap c, which is firmly secured to the upper end of the lifting-bar (l. This bar is preferably formedof wood, but may be of metal throughout, and is of such length as may be necessaryto suit the space beneath the floor of the mill in which it is to be operated. Upon its lower extremity is secured by bolts or other appropriate means the metallic connection c', having a socket formed in its upper end for the reception of the bar. Below this socket is an opening or mortise entirely through the connection, in which is serted the chain-carrying sheave a, and the whole ispivoted to and guided at its lower end by the cross-head a', which reciprocates vertically between the guiding and supporting posts D D, which are stepped into and adjustably secured in sockets in the bed d, and at their upper ends enter recesses for their reception in the bearers d. To one end of these bearers, at s, is attached the lifting-chainsj', which pass from their point of attachment downward and around the sheave a in the connection c, thence upward and over the sheave a, the journals of which run in supports 7c at the other end of the bearers d', and from this last-named sheave the chain passes downward to the chain-drums g g, which are secured upon the shaft F. Motion is imparted to the shaft F through the large friction-wheel G, (which is securely fastened upon it,) by means of a smaller friction-wheel, H, secured upon the shaft I. This shaft is connected by suitable gearing with the main driving-shaft of the mill, so that it shall always be in rotation when the mill is lrunning and the services of the machine it is intended to operate likely to be required. The vend of this shaft l, upon which the friction-wheel H is secured, runs in a journal-box secured upon the bridge-tree K. One end of this bridge-tree is held in place by and vibrates upon a stationary pivot, and the other, guided by the upright L of the supporting frame-work, is carried by an adjusting mechanism consisting of the screw Z with its adjusting-nuts, .link m, and bell-crank n, the whole being operated by the bar o, a slight longitudinal movement ot' Which'in one direction will raise the adjustable end of the bridgetree sufficiently to cause the lower frictionwheel to engage with and turn the upper one, which causes the chain-drums to revolve, or, if the movement of the bar o be in the opposite direction, the end of the bridge-tree, together with the friction-wheel H, will be depressed, thus releasing it from contact with the wheel G, when the rotation of the latter ceases, together with that of the chain-drums.

In operating this machine we will suppose the parts to be in the position represented in the drawings, the canting-levers and liftingbars at their lowest point, and the frictionwheels not in contact, a log or other lumber lying upon the carrying-rolls over the cantin glevers, as shown in Fig. l; a movement of the bar o now raises thc end of the bridge-tree, engages the friction-wheels, and sets the chaindrums in motion. The chains being taken up by them in turn raise the lifting-bars, and through them one end of the canting-levers, until the parts assume the position shown by the dotted lines. This movement throws the load forward, and at the same time may give it, if desired, one-fourth of a revolution, so that the top of the log occupies the relative position previously borne by one of its sides. The friction-wheels being then disengaged the different parts of the machine return to their original position by their own weight.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The canting-leversB, in combination with the lifting-bars G, the latter being provided with cap o, connection c', and cross-head 0.', substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The bearing-plates d provided with pulley-supports k, in combination with the guid- .ing posts D, cross-head a', bar C with its attachments c c', and chain f, substantially as specified.

The canting-levers B and their operating mechanism, in combination with the series ot' carrying-rolls A or their equivalents, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. rEhe canting-levers B, the lifting-bar C and its attachments, in combination with the chain f and the frictional gearing for operating the same, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. A log-canter composed of the elements herein set forth, all combined and arranged for joint operation, in the manner and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the -foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of July, 1873.

ALEXANDER RODGERS.

Witnesses:

Trios. Cure-HORN, DAVID MCLAUGHLIN. 

